Official Chevy Sonic Review Thread
- Thread starter Sonic-Mike
- Start date
Here's a somewhat rough review of the Sonic...
Review: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT | The Truth About Cars
He doesn't exactly dislike it, but it's tough to find much love there either.
Funny how he compares it to a number of cars, but then fails to mention that the Sonic is the ONLY one that is made in the US.
Sorry, but if we really want to get the economy turned around, people NEED to pay attention to who they are buying from.
Someone bumped this old thread and I read the article..
That test was a joke, it was done on a bottom end model and the tester was very critical of the bottom end options. I guess it's good info if that's what one is seeking, it's hardly a fair review though.
I tend to think on anything other than a luxury car (where they are loaded standard) options completely make the vehicle. Any Chevy LS model versus an LTZ are two different vehicles in all practical terms.
Jon
1.4 Turbo Review
Now that I have almost 3000 miles under my belt for my 1.4 sedan, I thought I would provide my real-world opinion of a lived-in Sonic.
I bought a white with black interior LT with the cruise package. Brought it home and immediately washed it, including using goof-off on the plastic black body parts where bugs had the guts to mark them. BIG MISTAKE! Anywhere that saw a dab of goof-off permanently changed to grey. Augh! Well, at least I won't worry so much when I get my first door ding!
Anyway, I traded my 2006 BMW 325ci Convertible in for this car, as I drive 140 a day for college, and the super unleaded prices were killing me. I initially noted mid-30s in mileage, but after about 1500 miles, that number has been creeping up. I have noticed, however, that wind resistance will definitely affect mileage, as going north against the wind, I average 36 mpg, but going south, with the wind, I average 43!
Now for some impressions. The steering is overboosted. Of course, coming from a BMW, any car's steering will suffer by comparison, but this car can be dangerous! The lack of feedback, coupled with the overboost, means a glance downward to grab a handfull of french fries could see you in another lane altogether! (I know some of the replies will fault me here, and I deserve it...) Seriously, though, it does take some getting used to. It also means you will become a serial lane-wanderer until you are accustomed to it. The breaks take hits from some automag reviewers I have read, but they seem perfectly fine and drama-free to me, as brakes should. The gearing, however, irks me to a point. First gear will get you halfway through an intersection under normal acceleration, until you need to shift into second. This bothers me, because a slight pause or slowdown in acceleration could mean trouble when others behind you are checking for oncoming traffic rather than watching your speed as they enter an intersection. A friend suggested I start in second gear from a stop, but again, the gearing doesn't allow that very well, as starting from second will see a burned out clutch in no time due to the taller ratios there. No doubt the upcoming 1.4 automatic will abrogate that issue. Lastly, about gearing, I live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, where frequent upshifts from 6th to 4th are necessary to keep the speed limit. I know, that's a tradeoff for 40mpg, I get it...
I am a clean car freak, and herein lies another frustration. The front headlight configuration presents a challenge when trying to clean it. The headlights do not have a lexan cover over the whole assembly; look closely at the headlights and you will see they are individually featured jutting from the fascia of the car, with frustratingly hard to clean recesses about them. I can only imagine when the heavy bug season comes, what the front will look like. Additionally, the sills of the door openings, visible when you open the doors, collect much dirt and road grime, though probably more noticeable since my car is white. When washing it, I must open the doors and get the sills, too. Also, the rear of the car is a magnet for grime, and if there is any moisture on the roads, your back end will surely show any accumulated dirt. The stock base wheels, though handsome aluminum units, are hard to clean, what with the narrow slits alternated with wider (sponge-friendly) openings. Why do car manufacturers do that? Make the wheels stylish, AND easy to clean, please.
I think the last bad thing I can say about it is that you'll have to adjust to closing the doors with more force than you're used to. A consequence to the sound-proofing is that the doors required more force to close tight against the weatherstripping (I think).
Having said all that, I must admit I am pleasantly surprised with this car in so many ways, that all the aforementioned sniglets fade into obscurity. For instance, this car has many of the "luxury" touches that my BMW had. For instance, automatic headlights, turn-by-turn navigation (with Onstar), tap the turn signal, and the blinker gives 3 blinks then stops (a nifty lane-changing feature that BMW had), one-touch power up and down driver's window, power doors, windows, mirrors, trunk release, and it holds the road almost as well. Mind you, it's no BMW, but aside from the steering, I have not missed much.
Things I miss from the BMW are the automatic windshield wipers, memory seats (although I don't miss the power seats, took too long to adjust), a better sound system, a front seat that reclines (am I just too stupid to figure out how?), first class service centers (where they really seem to care and treat your service problem like their own), and, of course, steering feedback.
The front seat legroom is more than my 6'1" frame can use, so there is plenty of back seat legroom for adults, and, for that matter, headroom, too. It doesn't feel like a subcompact at all on the inside. The driver's center armrest gets in the way of a smooth fastening action, and speaking of armrests, the side windowsills are a bit high to rest your arm on, though the molded-in armrest on the door suffices.
There has been much said regarding the hard plastic surfaces inside, but in my opinion, who needs a padded dashboard when airbags on virtually any impactable surface in a crash cushion the blows? Not that big a deal.
All in all, Chevy has a real winner here, a solid car with zippy acceleration, good mileage, good looks, and a roomy interior. I shopped all the competitors, and after much research, tire-kicking, and comparisons, feel I made the right choice for my circumstances. Usually, when car shopping, I make a decision, then second-guess myself. Not here. Great job, Chevy, and my first American car in a long long time.
Update, 4000 miles. Am now averaging mileage in the low 40s, and even managed 48 on a 40 mile trip! I found the seat back adjuster (thanks for the tip), so am very pleased. I read an article stating many (if not all?) Sonics were going to be recalled for missing brakes (!), but haven't gotten any notices... Also, my voice recorder that I purchased to record college lectures did not work through the USB connection in the upper glove box, and before buying a new recorder, I stopped by Champion Chevrolet in Austin, where a clueless service writer told me he didn't know how to fix that, and I would have to make an appointment to bring the car in. (It's not all in what he said, but the attitude in which he said it - I miss real service centers) So off to Best buy I went to buy another voice recorder, but the salesman there suggested I try connecting the recorder with an auxillary cord plugged into my recorder's headphone jack, with the other end plugged into the auxillary port on the botton right side of the radio, and that worked great. Word to the wise, Chevy; be a little more detailed in your owner's manual...
All in all, still extremely pleased with my decision to purchase this car!
Update 12,223 miles. The car is holding up very well, still drives great, getting 40++mpg (sometimes close to 50!), but there are a couple of issues. Now that bug season is here, I am having problems cleaning the bug parts out from around the headlights! Also, the paint seems to be a little soft, I have multiple rock chips on the front (my BMW had very few, and I don't tailgate). Interior is holding up very well, seats are still mighty comfy, and the car generally still looks and smells new. However - I am taking it in friday for the second time for the only problem I have had with it; the fuel guage suddenly goes blank, registering no gas. Pretty unnerving... The first time I had it fixed, the replacement part that Henna Chevrolet got in was defective(!), so they had to order another one. (When they gave me my car back, they had forgot to attach the tailpipe at the back - it was dragging... Made them fix it before I drove off) It has now happened again - the fuel guage just went blank. Both times I pressed Onstar and had them do a diagnostic check, and they confirmed I had a defective fuel level sensor. I am eager to know if anyone else has had this problem.
Last and final update...
The fuel level sensor has broke two more times! Chevy is going to give me what I paid for it, and discount a new camaro, so I'll be leaving this post to join the camaro group! To their credit, after the second incident, they asked if they could make a payment for me, but when I told them I owned it outright, they agreed to extend onstar for a year. Good folks. In parting, I must admit that, but for the one gremlin, this has been an awesome car. I was averaging 50.5mpg driving 75 miles to school (with the wind). And that was going 75mph! Take that, Prius!
Now that I have almost 3000 miles under my belt for my 1.4 sedan, I thought I would provide my real-world opinion of a lived-in Sonic.
I bought a white with black interior LT with the cruise package. Brought it home and immediately washed it, including using goof-off on the plastic black body parts where bugs had the guts to mark them. BIG MISTAKE! Anywhere that saw a dab of goof-off permanently changed to grey. Augh! Well, at least I won't worry so much when I get my first door ding!
Anyway, I traded my 2006 BMW 325ci Convertible in for this car, as I drive 140 a day for college, and the super unleaded prices were killing me. I initially noted mid-30s in mileage, but after about 1500 miles, that number has been creeping up. I have noticed, however, that wind resistance will definitely affect mileage, as going north against the wind, I average 36 mpg, but going south, with the wind, I average 43!
Now for some impressions. The steering is overboosted. Of course, coming from a BMW, any car's steering will suffer by comparison, but this car can be dangerous! The lack of feedback, coupled with the overboost, means a glance downward to grab a handfull of french fries could see you in another lane altogether! (I know some of the replies will fault me here, and I deserve it...) Seriously, though, it does take some getting used to. It also means you will become a serial lane-wanderer until you are accustomed to it. The breaks take hits from some automag reviewers I have read, but they seem perfectly fine and drama-free to me, as brakes should. The gearing, however, irks me to a point. First gear will get you halfway through an intersection under normal acceleration, until you need to shift into second. This bothers me, because a slight pause or slowdown in acceleration could mean trouble when others behind you are checking for oncoming traffic rather than watching your speed as they enter an intersection. A friend suggested I start in second gear from a stop, but again, the gearing doesn't allow that very well, as starting from second will see a burned out clutch in no time due to the taller ratios there. No doubt the upcoming 1.4 automatic will abrogate that issue. Lastly, about gearing, I live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, where frequent upshifts from 6th to 4th are necessary to keep the speed limit. I know, that's a tradeoff for 40mpg, I get it...
I am a clean car freak, and herein lies another frustration. The front headlight configuration presents a challenge when trying to clean it. The headlights do not have a lexan cover over the whole assembly; look closely at the headlights and you will see they are individually featured jutting from the fascia of the car, with frustratingly hard to clean recesses about them. I can only imagine when the heavy bug season comes, what the front will look like. Additionally, the sills of the door openings, visible when you open the doors, collect much dirt and road grime, though probably more noticeable since my car is white. When washing it, I must open the doors and get the sills, too. Also, the rear of the car is a magnet for grime, and if there is any moisture on the roads, your back end will surely show any accumulated dirt. The stock base wheels, though handsome aluminum units, are hard to clean, what with the narrow slits alternated with wider (sponge-friendly) openings. Why do car manufacturers do that? Make the wheels stylish, AND easy to clean, please.
I think the last bad thing I can say about it is that you'll have to adjust to closing the doors with more force than you're used to. A consequence to the sound-proofing is that the doors required more force to close tight against the weatherstripping (I think).
Having said all that, I must admit I am pleasantly surprised with this car in so many ways, that all the aforementioned sniglets fade into obscurity. For instance, this car has many of the "luxury" touches that my BMW had. For instance, automatic headlights, turn-by-turn navigation (with Onstar), tap the turn signal, and the blinker gives 3 blinks then stops (a nifty lane-changing feature that BMW had), one-touch power up and down driver's window, power doors, windows, mirrors, trunk release, and it holds the road almost as well. Mind you, it's no BMW, but aside from the steering, I have not missed much.
Things I miss from the BMW are the automatic windshield wipers, memory seats (although I don't miss the power seats, took too long to adjust), a better sound system, a front seat that reclines (am I just too stupid to figure out how?), first class service centers (where they really seem to care and treat your service problem like their own), and, of course, steering feedback.
The front seat legroom is more than my 6'1" frame can use, so there is plenty of back seat legroom for adults, and, for that matter, headroom, too. It doesn't feel like a subcompact at all on the inside. The driver's center armrest gets in the way of a smooth fastening action, and speaking of armrests, the side windowsills are a bit high to rest your arm on, though the molded-in armrest on the door suffices.
There has been much said regarding the hard plastic surfaces inside, but in my opinion, who needs a padded dashboard when airbags on virtually any impactable surface in a crash cushion the blows? Not that big a deal.
All in all, Chevy has a real winner here, a solid car with zippy acceleration, good mileage, good looks, and a roomy interior. I shopped all the competitors, and after much research, tire-kicking, and comparisons, feel I made the right choice for my circumstances. Usually, when car shopping, I make a decision, then second-guess myself. Not here. Great job, Chevy, and my first American car in a long long time.
Update, 4000 miles. Am now averaging mileage in the low 40s, and even managed 48 on a 40 mile trip! I found the seat back adjuster (thanks for the tip), so am very pleased. I read an article stating many (if not all?) Sonics were going to be recalled for missing brakes (!), but haven't gotten any notices... Also, my voice recorder that I purchased to record college lectures did not work through the USB connection in the upper glove box, and before buying a new recorder, I stopped by Champion Chevrolet in Austin, where a clueless service writer told me he didn't know how to fix that, and I would have to make an appointment to bring the car in. (It's not all in what he said, but the attitude in which he said it - I miss real service centers) So off to Best buy I went to buy another voice recorder, but the salesman there suggested I try connecting the recorder with an auxillary cord plugged into my recorder's headphone jack, with the other end plugged into the auxillary port on the botton right side of the radio, and that worked great. Word to the wise, Chevy; be a little more detailed in your owner's manual...
All in all, still extremely pleased with my decision to purchase this car!
Update 12,223 miles. The car is holding up very well, still drives great, getting 40++mpg (sometimes close to 50!), but there are a couple of issues. Now that bug season is here, I am having problems cleaning the bug parts out from around the headlights! Also, the paint seems to be a little soft, I have multiple rock chips on the front (my BMW had very few, and I don't tailgate). Interior is holding up very well, seats are still mighty comfy, and the car generally still looks and smells new. However - I am taking it in friday for the second time for the only problem I have had with it; the fuel guage suddenly goes blank, registering no gas. Pretty unnerving... The first time I had it fixed, the replacement part that Henna Chevrolet got in was defective(!), so they had to order another one. (When they gave me my car back, they had forgot to attach the tailpipe at the back - it was dragging... Made them fix it before I drove off) It has now happened again - the fuel guage just went blank. Both times I pressed Onstar and had them do a diagnostic check, and they confirmed I had a defective fuel level sensor. I am eager to know if anyone else has had this problem.
Last and final update...
The fuel level sensor has broke two more times! Chevy is going to give me what I paid for it, and discount a new camaro, so I'll be leaving this post to join the camaro group! To their credit, after the second incident, they asked if they could make a payment for me, but when I told them I owned it outright, they agreed to extend onstar for a year. Good folks. In parting, I must admit that, but for the one gremlin, this has been an awesome car. I was averaging 50.5mpg driving 75 miles to school (with the wind). And that was going 75mph! Take that, Prius!
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The front seats recline using a second lever mounted above the one that controls the up and down movement of the seat bottom. It took me a few minutes to find it as well, so don't feel bad. It's easier to find it BEFORE you sit in the car. Open your door and kneel down and look in that area and you will find it. It's hidden really well.
keto06
New member
Been driving an import? Haha even though its not ALWAYS the case, american cars tend to be on the right, imports on the left.
So I finally got the nerve to test drive a sonic at my local car dealership. And I fell in love with the car instantly. I test drove a Red LT sedan with an automatic car start and the ipod hook up. I found out that the brakes were very touchy in these cars real fast. And that the changing of grears in the 1.8 was rather weird. I liked the comfort aspect but I want an LTZ with leather. I took it on the highway and it handled very well. Now since I test drove one and liked it, I want one!!! I hope I can sell my 2009 Ford Focus real soon.
T ROY
New member
Here is another review, I don't know if its been uploaded yet or not....
Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 2012 Test Drive & Car Review with Ross Rapoport by RoadflyTV - YouTube
Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 2012 Test Drive & Car Review with Ross Rapoport by RoadflyTV - YouTube
Thaifight-R
Pika Pii!!!
Here's my list of pro's and con's for the turbo model thus far. (I have over 4000 miles on mine so far.)
Car is 1.4 Turbo Hatchback LT 6 spd w/ connectivity package
Pros:
- Easier (to modify) to get more power out of it compared to other competitors such as the (GE8) Honda Fit. (Have fun trying to get that L15A motor to make more than 150hp to the crank without spending $1000+ vs. Getting 150+hp w/ just a $300 Trifecta Tune)
-Great gas mileage. (Very easy to get over 40mpg. At least for me anyways... lol)
-Spacious interior
-Comfy seats (I have the cheap cloth interior, but I still find it comfy enough for 100 mile drives to my relatives places.)
-Suspension is fairly smooth. (I have lowering springs on my car now, but ride is still good)
-talking via bluetooth works very well. (both ends can hear clearly)
-buttons on steering wheel aren't too hard to reach.
-MPG meter and miles left meter on dash.
-So far, it's the only Turbo car in this price range.
-Sounds surprisingly nice with a custom exhaust, and confuses people at car meets. ^_^
-W/ original exhaust, car is very quiet
Cons:
-Not very much cargo space in the hatchback model. (Sedan model on the other hand has A LOT more space in the trunk.)
-Hill assist (at least for me) can be a tad annoying for manual transmission
-easy to stall (partly because of hill assist)
-Cannot fully disable traction control without removing the ABS fuse.
-5x105 bolt pattern (And I thought the 5x100 bolt pattern on my Celica had limited wheel choices...)
-Why is there only 1 seat pouch behind the passenger seat and not on the driver seat as well???
-Does not come with a boost gauge.
-dash won't tell you how many miles you have left once you go below 30 miles; Only says LOW (for amount of gas remaining)
-Have yet to be able to call people without taking my phone out or saying the individual numbers. Maybe it's just because I haven't bothered to see how to do it...
-no rear disc brakes.
In general, the electronic assists can be a tad of a nuisance if you're used to driving an older car (My other car is an '89 Toyota Celica), but the potential in making more power, along with the amazing gas mileage far outweigh the minor annoyances.
Hope that helps!
Car is 1.4 Turbo Hatchback LT 6 spd w/ connectivity package
Pros:
- Easier (to modify) to get more power out of it compared to other competitors such as the (GE8) Honda Fit. (Have fun trying to get that L15A motor to make more than 150hp to the crank without spending $1000+ vs. Getting 150+hp w/ just a $300 Trifecta Tune)
-Great gas mileage. (Very easy to get over 40mpg. At least for me anyways... lol)
-Spacious interior
-Comfy seats (I have the cheap cloth interior, but I still find it comfy enough for 100 mile drives to my relatives places.)
-Suspension is fairly smooth. (I have lowering springs on my car now, but ride is still good)
-talking via bluetooth works very well. (both ends can hear clearly)
-buttons on steering wheel aren't too hard to reach.
-MPG meter and miles left meter on dash.
-So far, it's the only Turbo car in this price range.
-Sounds surprisingly nice with a custom exhaust, and confuses people at car meets. ^_^
-W/ original exhaust, car is very quiet
Cons:
-Not very much cargo space in the hatchback model. (Sedan model on the other hand has A LOT more space in the trunk.)
-Hill assist (at least for me) can be a tad annoying for manual transmission
-easy to stall (partly because of hill assist)
-Cannot fully disable traction control without removing the ABS fuse.
-5x105 bolt pattern (And I thought the 5x100 bolt pattern on my Celica had limited wheel choices...)
-Why is there only 1 seat pouch behind the passenger seat and not on the driver seat as well???
-Does not come with a boost gauge.
-dash won't tell you how many miles you have left once you go below 30 miles; Only says LOW (for amount of gas remaining)
-Have yet to be able to call people without taking my phone out or saying the individual numbers. Maybe it's just because I haven't bothered to see how to do it...
-no rear disc brakes.
In general, the electronic assists can be a tad of a nuisance if you're used to driving an older car (My other car is an '89 Toyota Celica), but the potential in making more power, along with the amazing gas mileage far outweigh the minor annoyances.
Hope that helps!
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laborsmith
New member
GM seemed to use the 5x100 PCD on many of its small cars, I had it on my Berettas and on my Cavaliers. I have also seen the single pouch behind the passenger seat on other GM cars, not just Chevy, but frankly never understood the need for one let alone two.
I agree with your positives, bearing in mind I do not have a smart phone so have no ideas about it.
Hill assist works for me but I rarely have occasion for it.
Otherwise, what you reported I can concur. In the words of a social worker: your report is congruent with my findings. (Could not resist!)
Laborsmith
I agree with your positives, bearing in mind I do not have a smart phone so have no ideas about it.
Hill assist works for me but I rarely have occasion for it.
Otherwise, what you reported I can concur. In the words of a social worker: your report is congruent with my findings. (Could not resist!)
Laborsmith
Thaifight-R
Pika Pii!!!
You actually do not need to have a smartphone to take advantage of the features I mentioned previously as most, if not all cell phones now have Bluetooth functionality built in.
Thanks!
lolsouthtownadam
New member
Sonic got another good review by Popular Mechanics...sorry if the image quality is a little poor
Attachments
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adams sonic review 001.jpg
whodoyouthinkyouaretoby
New member
My dodge intrepid's gas door was on the driver's side too. Not a complaint, but sort ifc
embarrassing having to get back in and move your car haha.
2013 Sonic LTZ Hatch, in Silver Ice Metallic,
First time in a compact car, the drive is far beyond what I expected, It's fun to drive maybe it's the sunroof, and I haven't had that experience in a long time driving a car, interior is laid out nice the new gauge is very cool, but would like to see other gauges or the ability to scan for them on the display, more plastic than im used too but looks good, colors are nicely matched up seats are comfortable, back seat is comfortable too, im 5'7" so not that big and I fit very comfortable all over the car, I did put a rear facing car seat in the back it fit but was tight, not too much of a problem because its not that often, the dash has many cubbies some are WTH is that? not a big fan but it will grow on me, my phone fits nicely in it, the radio is a very nice touch as in touch it seems it's the heart of the car it does everything, the USB port works flawlessly, scrolling is easy, but "Read The Manual" to learn how to use it, it can be complicated, keep a micro cleaning cloth handy if your like me the finger prints will drive you nuts, the outside is very sporty and handles like one, haven't been able to really drive the car yet due to break-in period, once that is done " Drive it like you stole it" the 1.4t is surprisingly quick "impressed" wheels are nice and clean,they did a good job on them, tires are good for factory will need an upgrade to a larger wider tire, I like the round Driving/Fog lights much better than the RS ones that seem like aftermarket ebay ones, the round light fit the car much better because of the round headlight design which is very nice, no other up grade is needed for looks, all in all a very nice car GM did good this time, Very Happy with my purchase.
Cons: not much only had the car for one day, touch screen finger prints need to clean frequent, thats probably just me, the spot mirrors on the side view can distort image sometimes to make you look harder to see, the aux plug is in a bad spot to easy to hit it while driving. needs the ability to see engine temp.
David,
First time in a compact car, the drive is far beyond what I expected, It's fun to drive maybe it's the sunroof, and I haven't had that experience in a long time driving a car, interior is laid out nice the new gauge is very cool, but would like to see other gauges or the ability to scan for them on the display, more plastic than im used too but looks good, colors are nicely matched up seats are comfortable, back seat is comfortable too, im 5'7" so not that big and I fit very comfortable all over the car, I did put a rear facing car seat in the back it fit but was tight, not too much of a problem because its not that often, the dash has many cubbies some are WTH is that? not a big fan but it will grow on me, my phone fits nicely in it, the radio is a very nice touch as in touch it seems it's the heart of the car it does everything, the USB port works flawlessly, scrolling is easy, but "Read The Manual" to learn how to use it, it can be complicated, keep a micro cleaning cloth handy if your like me the finger prints will drive you nuts, the outside is very sporty and handles like one, haven't been able to really drive the car yet due to break-in period, once that is done " Drive it like you stole it" the 1.4t is surprisingly quick "impressed" wheels are nice and clean,they did a good job on them, tires are good for factory will need an upgrade to a larger wider tire, I like the round Driving/Fog lights much better than the RS ones that seem like aftermarket ebay ones, the round light fit the car much better because of the round headlight design which is very nice, no other up grade is needed for looks, all in all a very nice car GM did good this time, Very Happy with my purchase.
Cons: not much only had the car for one day, touch screen finger prints need to clean frequent, thats probably just me, the spot mirrors on the side view can distort image sometimes to make you look harder to see, the aux plug is in a bad spot to easy to hit it while driving. needs the ability to see engine temp.
David,
KartRacer
Member
RS vs LT Sonic
Well I have stated before that once I drove the RS my mind was instantly made up. Today my RS manual went in to dealer to have MyLink replaced. They gave me a new 8000mi Sonic LT automatic.
I have 8000 on my RS.
For anyone on the fence, do buy a Manual Trans for max FUN! The RS offers so much more in enjoyable performance, handling, braking and comfort.
For those that have already bought something else, I am so sorry. Enjoy what you have and next time around check out the manual Trans RS.
I now understand all of the modding going on here on the forum. Buy the RS and save the money on mods. Bless racing, you do not need to lower it, change spring rates, add power" gear ratios take care of that. No extra cost for all of the performance things to bring the Sonic up to the RS level.
Don't get me wrong I am not knocking anyone for purchasing a lower trim level, just saying buy what you can afford.
I love driving my RS and there is no way I would be happy if I had bought anything less.
Well I have stated before that once I drove the RS my mind was instantly made up. Today my RS manual went in to dealer to have MyLink replaced. They gave me a new 8000mi Sonic LT automatic.
I have 8000 on my RS.
For anyone on the fence, do buy a Manual Trans for max FUN! The RS offers so much more in enjoyable performance, handling, braking and comfort.
For those that have already bought something else, I am so sorry. Enjoy what you have and next time around check out the manual Trans RS.
I now understand all of the modding going on here on the forum. Buy the RS and save the money on mods. Bless racing, you do not need to lower it, change spring rates, add power" gear ratios take care of that. No extra cost for all of the performance things to bring the Sonic up to the RS level.
Don't get me wrong I am not knocking anyone for purchasing a lower trim level, just saying buy what you can afford.
I love driving my RS and there is no way I would be happy if I had bought anything less.
Hey guys, Im a proud owner of a new sonic RS (Barina RS here in Australia) and thought my story might be of interest. All my life I've only ever been around 6 and 8 cylinder cars and utes (i grew up and currently work on a farm over summer but study in the city) so when it was time for me to buy my first new car I swore i'd never get in a 4 cylinder hatch... I was at a dealership once looking at sedans and the salesman asked me to at least sit in the RS, I loved what I saw but was still suspicious about lack of power etc.. and wasn't convinced.
Then I got thinking, I still have licence restrictions only being 20 years old, and I can't be smashing out money on fuel.. The RS's engine specs jump it through a legal loop hole where even though its turbocharged which is usually not allowed, I can get an exemption and legally drive it. Its also a lot cheaper to run even if you insist on premium and is very comfy inside. After taking it for a test drive I wasn't stressed about power problems, after getting to know the close range gearing in it (gears 1,2 and 3 mainly) i was surprised by how feisty the car was and the way you could put your foot down and get a very satisfying response.
So is this the best fast hatch out there? probably not, but anything faster is illegal for me for another 2 years and out of my current price range, but the fun factor is through the roof! this little rocket can rip through corners where sedans are struggling (the suspension setup is nicely done although could maybe drop a fraction lower) and the 1.4 growls for more when you put your foot down in 2nd and take off with a nice little boost from the turbo. No it is not going to out-run a skyline or a V8 SS (its a 'commodore SS' over here, not sure what Chev sells it as) but for someone that just wants something to suit my needs with a little something extra for fun, I found this car to be perfect.
I do not regret my purchase one bit and definitely recommend people that are wanting a reasonably priced hatch that doesn't look or feel like your standard hatch to give the RS a go (and always go for the 6-spd manual, I drive trucks with 15-spd gearboxes and know a solid transmission when I see one).
Then I got thinking, I still have licence restrictions only being 20 years old, and I can't be smashing out money on fuel.. The RS's engine specs jump it through a legal loop hole where even though its turbocharged which is usually not allowed, I can get an exemption and legally drive it. Its also a lot cheaper to run even if you insist on premium and is very comfy inside. After taking it for a test drive I wasn't stressed about power problems, after getting to know the close range gearing in it (gears 1,2 and 3 mainly) i was surprised by how feisty the car was and the way you could put your foot down and get a very satisfying response.
So is this the best fast hatch out there? probably not, but anything faster is illegal for me for another 2 years and out of my current price range, but the fun factor is through the roof! this little rocket can rip through corners where sedans are struggling (the suspension setup is nicely done although could maybe drop a fraction lower) and the 1.4 growls for more when you put your foot down in 2nd and take off with a nice little boost from the turbo. No it is not going to out-run a skyline or a V8 SS (its a 'commodore SS' over here, not sure what Chev sells it as) but for someone that just wants something to suit my needs with a little something extra for fun, I found this car to be perfect.
I do not regret my purchase one bit and definitely recommend people that are wanting a reasonably priced hatch that doesn't look or feel like your standard hatch to give the RS a go (and always go for the 6-spd manual, I drive trucks with 15-spd gearboxes and know a solid transmission when I see one).
Had my gray 2013 Sonic LT (1.8L A/T hatchback 25k miles - bought used) for 5 months now. My previous car was a 1994 Toyota Camry (4 cylinders). I travel a lot for business and I use a lot of rental cars, all sizes.
My impressions of the Sonic:
- feels solid, like a bigger car
- steering is excellent: very precise and easy and you get some road feedback
- surprisingly quiet; I can hear my wristwatch ticking while I'm driving
- has enough engine power to get you going quickly at intersections or to pass other cars
- a lot of electronic gadgets
- nice looking interior design
- looks good on the outside too; got a lot of compliments from neighbors - apparently they like seeing this car in the parking lot
Problems I have with it:
- car shaking while idle at a stopping light - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about it, claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
- noise coming from the rear of the car when braking - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about it, claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
- occasionally cabin air fan making high chirping noise at speeds 1 and 2 - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about, it claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
I'm sure as soon as my warranty will expire they will be more than glad to investigate the problems and fix them. There are two service bulletins out for the first two problems I mentioned. What's the point of warranty if they do not honor it.
Overall satisfaction: it's an OK car. Could have been a great car if the service center would take care of those issues. As it is now I cannot recommend this car to my friends to buy. Already steered two friends towards other compact cars not made by GM/Chevrolet. I will probably not buy another GM/Chevrolet car in the future.
Shame on GM/Chevrolet...
My impressions of the Sonic:
- feels solid, like a bigger car
- steering is excellent: very precise and easy and you get some road feedback
- surprisingly quiet; I can hear my wristwatch ticking while I'm driving
- has enough engine power to get you going quickly at intersections or to pass other cars
- a lot of electronic gadgets
- nice looking interior design
- looks good on the outside too; got a lot of compliments from neighbors - apparently they like seeing this car in the parking lot
Problems I have with it:
- car shaking while idle at a stopping light - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about it, claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
- noise coming from the rear of the car when braking - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about it, claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
- occasionally cabin air fan making high chirping noise at speeds 1 and 2 - Chevrolet maintenance center won't do anything about, it claiming they cannot reproduce the problem
I'm sure as soon as my warranty will expire they will be more than glad to investigate the problems and fix them. There are two service bulletins out for the first two problems I mentioned. What's the point of warranty if they do not honor it.
Overall satisfaction: it's an OK car. Could have been a great car if the service center would take care of those issues. As it is now I cannot recommend this car to my friends to buy. Already steered two friends towards other compact cars not made by GM/Chevrolet. I will probably not buy another GM/Chevrolet car in the future.
Shame on GM/Chevrolet...
mja
Site Supporter
Ooo reviews...
Pro's - in order
1) Gas mileage
2) Reliability - huge peace of mind for a daily driver
3) Handling
4) Interior cargo space - hatchback - can fit a 9' longboard inside with room to spare :banana: Car doesn't squat when loaded up with pallets, fence posts, or people, was impressed by that.
5) Exterior looks
6) Ease of maintenance and DIY fixing
7) Power
Con's - in order
1) Hatchback trunk space with the back seats up
2) Driver's window switches
3) Stock headlights seem dim (my eyes suck)
4) Shifter cables loosen and should be realigned from time to time for crisp shifting feel
5) Lack of instrumentation - most cars nowadays are like this
6) 10 gallons to fill up - average for cars in this class
7) Power :blankface:
My dealer experiences at Classic Chevrolet in Sugarland were all top notch. Always willing to help and go out of their way to address issues and fix problems, offering a free tow and a courtesy vehicle. I even bought the car at a different used car retailer. A classy and stand-up dealer.
Pro's - in order
1) Gas mileage
2) Reliability - huge peace of mind for a daily driver
3) Handling
4) Interior cargo space - hatchback - can fit a 9' longboard inside with room to spare :banana: Car doesn't squat when loaded up with pallets, fence posts, or people, was impressed by that.
5) Exterior looks
6) Ease of maintenance and DIY fixing
7) Power
Con's - in order
1) Hatchback trunk space with the back seats up
2) Driver's window switches
3) Stock headlights seem dim (my eyes suck)
4) Shifter cables loosen and should be realigned from time to time for crisp shifting feel
5) Lack of instrumentation - most cars nowadays are like this
6) 10 gallons to fill up - average for cars in this class
7) Power :blankface:
My dealer experiences at Classic Chevrolet in Sugarland were all top notch. Always willing to help and go out of their way to address issues and fix problems, offering a free tow and a courtesy vehicle. I even bought the car at a different used car retailer. A classy and stand-up dealer.
